Towing?

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Feb 7, 2002 | 09:36 AM

robert_boyd

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Towing?

I've got a 1986 4X4, F-150, 5.0 FI, E4OD. I'm going to be pulling a trailor with a 1976 (Big) Thunderbird to car shows. My question is there any mods I can do to my truck to handle the load? Do I need to get a different truck F-250/350, gas or diesel? If I get a different truck what do you suggest?

Feb 7, 2002 | 12:46 PM

slikness

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From: Durham

Towing?

You might want to consider some type of good overload springs on the rear...the air bags seem to have the best overall benefit...I put an adjustable timing control from MSD in mine so that I set the timing at 6 BTDC for towing and then back to 13 for better mileage.

Feb 7, 2002 | 02:09 PM

Franklin2

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From: Virginia

Towing?

Don't get in a hurry with a 302. It will be all it can do. And make sure you have a good transmission cooler. I used to say "aw I don't need that", till I found out towing discolored my tranny fluid.

Feb 8, 2002 | 08:15 AM

460lover

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From: Glendale, AZ U.S.A

Towing?

I would get an f250, they don't cost all that much more than the 150. a 351w might pull the job off.

Feb 8, 2002 | 09:51 AM

slikness

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From: Durham

Towing?

Transmission cooler is a great investment and fairly cheap. You could also use synthetic fluid. I'm towing our trailer and 3400 lb race car to the track with very few problems and I'm running an F150 2WD, but I've got the 351W with 3.55 posi (I put the posi in last year and what a difference!!) I had my C6 tranny rebuilt two years ago and we put a B&M shift kit in and that seemed to help also...and of course I'm running a large tranny cooler.

Feb 8, 2002 | 01:30 PM

400m

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From: Lincoln, Rhode Island

Towing?

I tow about 5000# with my 86' granted I have a 400 and a manual your 302 should be fine don't mess with the timing your truck is fuel injected and has a anti-knock sensor and with automatically adjust the timming as needed. but you definitly want a tranny cooler the lower the temperature of you fluid the longer and better the tranny will work. Also Red Line make a water wetter that you add to your cooling system and it will reduce your coolant temp during towing by as much as 20 degrees.

400m

Feb 8, 2002 | 03:14 PM

slikness

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From: Durham

Towing?

Crap, there I go again and keep thinking of the old days when timing actually meant something...he's right...you can't go messing with your timing or distributor much with the EFI and supporting computer inputs...sorry about that!!!